Month: September 2016

At the October 3rd, 2016 meeting, Vance County Board of Commissioners are expected to vote on an initiative from the U.S. Motto Action Committee, a group that actively encourages local elected officials across NC and our nation to display the National Motto. The group has successfully lobbied nearly 50 other counties in North Carolina to alter their building signage to include the wording “In God We Trust” to their public buildings. Pictures of their proposed modifications include the Vance County Court House and …

The Biodiesel 4 Schools Program has donated $460 to Vance County Schools since June. The school system entered a partnership with the program in January of 2015. Dean Price of Green Circle N.C., administers the program that partners with public school systems across this region of North Carolina to turn used cooking oil from local businesses into biodiesel fuel used in certain motor vehicles. The program then provides the school system with a percentage of the funds collected each quarter …

Vance-Granville Community College recently received a $17,234 grant from the North Carolina Community College System to fund the Male Mentoring Success Initiative at the college for the 2016-2017 academic year. All first-year male students at the college will now be involved in the expanded program, according to Anthony Pope, a VGCC academic & career coach who coordinates the initiative. Representatives of VGCC and other colleges that received the grants attended a system-wide kick-off event on Aug. 30 at Wake Technical …

North Carolina high school students saw performance gains last year on key measures of college readiness – the SAT college admissions exam and on Advanced Placement tests, according to results released today by The College Board, which administers the national exams. North Carolina’s average SAT scores for 2016 high school graduates from all schools increased by 1 point each on the critical reading (502) and math (508) portions of the exam. State gains on both parts of the test outpaced …

Tracy Thorpe teaches students with autism at Northern Vance High School. She has a total of seven years of experience in education. Thorpe has a passion for teaching and is dedicated and committed to the academic success of her students. She will be recognized for her outstanding contributions made to improving students’ outcomes during the 66th N.C. Conference on Exceptional Children at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, November 9-10.

Governor Pat McCrory announced this week that North Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped even lower to 4.6 percent in August, the lowest since April 2007. “North Carolina has seen one of the largest decreases in unemployment in the nation since 2013 and we are home to one of the fastest growing economies in the nation,” said Governor McCrory. “With a declining unemployment rate and more than 300,000 new jobs added, it is clear that our pro-growth economic policies continue to make North …

Henderson take note: you now have a new local restaurant option, in Downtown Henderson! The Chamber celebrated our newest Chamber member, Flickers Sports Bar and Grill with a Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, September 20th at their 200 S. Garnett Street location. Flickers is a sports bar and grill that provides the tri-county area a place to come enjoy an atmosphere of ultimate sports viewing. They specialize in gourmet flavored wings, chicken-n-waffles, Panini sandwiches, subs, burgers and more. While there be …

Halifax, Nash, Vance, Warren and Wilson Counties District – 4 Senator Angela R. Bryant Volume 14, Issue XII September 19, 2016 NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door are always open to you! You are also invited to attend any and all Sessions and Committees. Visit the website for Session and Committee meeting times. As always, thank you for your support! NEWSLETTER NEWS: EVENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT …

Photo of the Week This week, I joined my fellow North Carolinians in the House in co-hosting the 20th Annual NC Business & Economic Development Summit. In the photo above I am introducing House Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Weekly Update Capitol Hill is an extremely busy place to be this month! This week alone, we have passed several important bills in the House including one repealing an Obamacare tax hike on seniors and the middle class, legislation prohibiting …

On Thursday, September 1st, Flowers Baking Company held a ribbon cutting celebration at its new location on 875 S. Beckford Drive in Henderson. With the help of representatives from the Flowers Baking Company, Vice President of Sales, Tony Ufland, officially cut the ribbon and welcomed attendees with a bag full of bread and sweet rolls. Their company thrives on providing the freshest and best quality product in the marketplace. They pick up their product early in the marketplace, and replace …

Vance-Granville Community College will hold a “Manufacturing Day” celebration on Friday, Oct. 7, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The public is invited to attend and to learn more about manufacturing and related careers. Local manufacturers and equipment vendors will provide demonstrations and information highlighting their products and their employment opportunities. Attendees will learn about career options in the region’s industries and the technical …

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Mars Petcare US as they celebrated a $21M investment at an event on September 8th at the Henderson facility. Mars Petcare, one of the world’s leading pet care providers, is expanding support for its existing facility in Henderson, which currently produces IAMS® and EUKANUBA® brand pet foods. Improvements planned for the facility will give the company increased flexibility to respond to consumer demand by producing more dog and cat food, as well as …

The City of Henderson will be offering free home inspections to include checking your smoke detectors and residence for fire hazards. Unlike previous years, residents will need to call the Fire Department at 252-430-1877 to schedule an appointment. Fire prevention month is a great time to check the smoke detectors in your home, as well as teach children the importance of fire safety, and what to do in case of an emergency, such as the safest way to exit your …

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently received a five-year, $5.3 million grant from the Food and Drug Administration to enhance produce safety. The funding will be used to ensure that North Carolina farmers and producers are ready to comply with the stricter production and harvest requirements of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act. “This funding will help our Food and Drug Protection Division support farmers and producers in getting their businesses ready to meet these new requirements,” …

A group of ten students from Vance-Granville Community College recently received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System. The scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The scholarship can be used to assist with tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare expenses related to attending classes during the 2015-16 academic year, and industry-recognized credential testing expenses that …

Customers who receive water via the Kerr Lake Regional Water System may be currently experiencing discolored water from their taps. The City believes this is a result of the Kerr Lake Regional Water plant experiencing manganese from the surface water which was removed, but was captured in the remaining sludge and is now showing up in the distribution system. With the interaction of chlorine, it is making its way through the distribution system, including Henderson customers and also customers of …

All 130 campuses of ITT Technical Institute, including the campus in Durham, abruptly closed earlier this month, leaving a number of students in the region struggling to find options to continue their education. Officials at Vance-Granville Community College are inviting those students to enroll and have their transcripts evaluated to potentially transfer the credits they have already earned. “Many ITT Tech students have had their academic and career plans interrupted, and we want to support them through their transition to …

Photo of the Week Standing with my House colleagues on the Capitol steps to honor the 15th Anniversary of 9/11. We stood to honor those who lost their lives that day, including the many first responder heroes who ran into burning buildings, and also to show our resolve that we never forget that day. Weekly Update Following the Labor Day weekend, House Republicans hit the ground running as we returned to Washington and immediately got to work on a …

Vance County Schools hosted its “Leadership Celebration” in McGregor Hall last night and announced the selection of Linwood Swann of Eaton-Johnson Middle School as the school system’s 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year, Crystal Richardson of Clarke Elementary School as the 2016-2017 Principal of the Year and Joy Suther of Dabney Elementary School as the 2016-2017 Assistant Principal of the Year. Approximately 120 school officials, educators, family members and other invited guests attended the event, which was held in the McGregor …